Strange erratic computer behavior.help!!

titewad_2 · 25 April 2005 at 8:38PM

DVB wrote:

Did you test the memory, as I suggested earlier?

I don't know how to do that,I've re-read all posts but I can't find instructions for doing that.I'll give it a go if you lead me through the process please.

DVB_3 · 25 April 2005 at 9:03PM

This is the recommended tool, and this one could be used as an alternative (matter of personal preference, but the first link is newer). Basically, you need to download the relevant file, make either the cdrom or the floppy, boot from it and follow instructions.

Assuming the first link, you need to get either a pre-compiled iso or a pre-compiled floppy

Choose the medium that you like most, prepare it using the downloaded file (for instance, if iso - burn the image onto cdr) and boot from it. The rest should be a simple matter of following instructions.

The choice of medium can be influenced by your hardware config (no cd-rw or no floppy), but if you have both I'd suggest to use floppy, as you should be able to save test results (haven't used the newest version, but at least you could in older ones). Test results might prove to be helpful in case you'd need to discuss the computer under warranty, but if you don't need that - use any media you like. Latest version can even be installed on a USB key.

bbb_uk · 25 April 2005 at 9:09PM

There is something else you could try and that is booting windows into safe mode!

If windows is booted into safe mode, then only absolutely essential drivers, etc are loaded and none of the other stuff.

To boot into safe mode, turn your computer on and press the F8 key (and keep pressing every 2 seconds or so) until a menu shows up on the screen.

If the menu isn't displayed and the windows logo appears (ie it is now loading Windows) then you weren't guick enough. This can happen if you reset the computer as opposed to turning it off properly and then turning back on again, or alternatively pressing the reset key on your tower should be ok.

When the menu is displayed use the up/down arrow and highlight "Safe Mode"** and press Enter twice.

Windows will now load with essential drivers only. The screen resolution will probably look different but this is normal.

In Safe Mode, you may find that certain things don't work or you may not be able to make some configuration changes but again this is normal.

Now with Windows in Safe mode, just go and play around with everything (type a word document, load up IE and play around with your favourites or something, play video's/music, etc). If you can do all this without any resets, etc then this may narrow the problem down to a driver or something (obviously the longer you test in safe mode the more likely that points to something that windows loads like a driver or something).

**In safe mode, you will find the internet won't work but if you select 'Safe Mode with Network Support' instead of just 'Safe Mode' when prompted during booting then you may be able to go on the internet as you did before. If you connect via USB to the internet then I'm not sure if it'll work as Safe mode may not load the USB drivers.

titewad_2 · 5 May 2005 at 9:42PM

After running the memory test programme it showed no faults then crashed soon after.I sent the report to microsoft after the system recovered from serious error,and it says that I have a hardware or driver problem.No hardware has been recently installed and I would not know where to start regarding checking drivers.This being the case I have decided that it's time for a new computer tower pretty quick and just carry on using this one in the meeantime(when it lets me).I don't know enough about them to build one myself but I'm assuming I can get more for my money by buying components (had a system quote from a local shop)and having a more knowledgeable pal put it together for me,as opposed to buying a Dell or a Time or something similar.I'm going to start a new thread where some of you pc techie gurus can offer your input on building a system.
thanks for all previous replies and advice in this thread.

bbb_uk · 5 May 2005 at 10:46PM

titewad, have you ran windows within "safe mode"? If yes, and the problem didn't appear then its likely to be a driver/software related issue, otherwise it could be hardware as well.

Mattjimf · 6 May 2005 at 12:55AM

IF microsoft is saying it's a driver or hardware problem then i would reconmend first going to https://www.pcpitstop.com and letting it run a test on your system, this may tell you a lot more about what is in your computer and will highlight any possible problems and how to deal with them (it's best visited in IE due to having to download and install active content, it's also assuming that your computer lets you on long enough to complete it).

titewad_2 · 13 May 2005 at 9:44PM

the pc pitstop test said I had red flag for windows indicating problems.This appears to be spyware and adware when i went through the results.
I have run my pc for a couple of days in safe mode,media player,internet and a couple of other things don't work but it doesn't seem to turn itself off whilst in this mode.I have left in on overnight and it has still been on in the morning and all through the day while I've been at work.

T4i · 14 May 2005 at 9:41AM

http://www.merijn.org/files/hijackthis.zip

Download this, its hijack this. Run a scan and copy/paste the results in here.

T4i · 14 May 2005 at 9:43AM

You can compair with my system.

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 9:42:29 AM, on 14/05/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SpybotSD.exe
C:\Program Files\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\Chris\LOCALS~1\Temp\Rar$EX00.110\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.co.uk/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.google.ca
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.co.uk/
R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - !!06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - !!53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O4 - Startup: newsLeecher.lnk = C:\Program Files\NewsLeecher\newsLeecher.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - !!08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msjava.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - !!08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msjava.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - !!92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.google.ca
O16 - DPF: !!0A5FD7C5-A45C-49FC-ADB5-9952547D5715} (Creative Software AutoUpdate) - http://www.creative.com/su/ocx/15007/CTSUEng.cab
O16 - DPF: !!54B52E52-8000-4413-BD67-FC7FE24B59F2} (EARTPatchX Class) - http://files.ea.com/downloads/rtpatch/v2/EARTPX.cab
O16 - DPF: !!6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v5consumer/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1093020688359
O16 - DPF: !!74D05D43-3236-11D4-BDCD-00C04F9A3B61} (HouseCall Control) - http://a840.g.akamai.net/7/840/537/2004061001/housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/xscan53.cab
O16 - DPF: {F6ACF75C-C32C-447B-9BEF-46B766368D29} (Creative Software AutoUpdate Support Package) - http://www.creative.com/su/ocx/15008/CTPID.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\!!3EB1884E-4958-4244-B2F2-39C7B21F2184}: NameServer = 192.168.0.1
O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\Tcpip\..\!!3EB1884E-4958-4244-B2F2-39C7B21F2184}: NameServer = 192.168.0.1
O23 - Service: Adobe LM Service - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe Systems Shared\Service\Adobelmsvc.exe
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: Macromedia Licensing Service - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macromedia Shared\Service\Macromedia Licensing.exe

bbb_uk · 14 May 2005 at 1:50PM

As you say its been stable using safe mode then the problem would seem to relate to a driver/software problem.

As well as what T4i has posted can you do Ctrl-Alt-Del to bring up the task manager as you may be able to spot programmes that are running that you didn't know about. This way brings up only processes running - the HiJack report does the same but is more indepth and you may find it confusing to follow.

If you look here you'll see a list of processes running on my system. There are 21 listed (the bare minimum I can get my system to run on to both remain stable and they use hardly any of my processor time). Most processes are part of windows XP except the following:-

VSMON.EXE & ZLCLIENT.EXE - these are part of my firewall, "ZoneAlarm Security Suite"
NOD32KRN.EXE & NOD32UI.EXE - these are part of my AntiVirus, "NOD32"
PGLITE.EXE - this is part of PeerGuardian Lite and I use it for blocking certain IP addresses

If you post your HiJack report here, it'll list which processes are running and you can compare the list of processes you have running to what I and T4i have.

The next lot of testing that can be done is determine if it is software related by shutdown/stop any processes that aren't absolutely necessary and then just use IE as normal (assuming IE isn't the cause) and test this without using any additional software.

Strange erratic computer behavior.help!!

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